Toronto heads down to Ohio's capital with their play-off hopes hanging by a thread. It seems like it has been that way for half the season. But in all seriousness, with temperatures dropping and games dwindling, the Reds have been in play-off mode for some time as they face the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field for a Saturday afternoon clash.

The Crew sit 11th in MLS's Eastern Conference with 35 points (ten wins, 15 losses, five draws). They trail Toronto FC and Red Bull New York by just a single point as the regular season enters the home stretch. RBNY currently hold the final play-in spot over Toronto due to their greater number of wins — ten to the Reds' eight. To say this match has important implications for the play-off race would be an understatement.

This match will be part two of the Reds' season series with their Trillium Cup rivals. Earlier this season, Toronto beat the Crew 2-1 on 21 March 2026 at BMO Field. The two teams drew 1-1 in their two previous meetings in 2025.

How Columbus enters the match

The Columbus Crew are in similar straits as Toronto at this juncture in the season, sitting just a point behind TFC. The Crew are also negotiating their path through a congested late MLS schedule and some recent US Open Cup heartache mid-week, when they lost the final to St. Louis City SC on Wednesday.

The Crew came so close to winning the Cup final, losing 5-3 on penalties after going scoreless for 120 minutes. They have no option but to put their Cup defeat behind them and refocus on the league.

Despite the Cup final disappointment, the Crew have been playing well in regular-season play under former CF Montréal coach Laurent Courtois, with wins in four of their last five MLS matches.

Under Courtois's guidance, the Crew have looked to control possession with patient build-up from the back. In attack, their tactical schemes rely heavily on positional fluidity. Without any major stars having breakout seasons, Columbus have relied on the collective. Despite their record, Columbus are steady defensively and have an attack that matches TFC with 46 goals scored.

The team identity starts at the back with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Schulte has been as reliable as can be, playing every MLS and Leagues Cup match for his side and anchoring their backline. His performances have also earned him recent call-ups to the US Men's National Team. Schulte will be fresh to face TFC, as Guatemalan veteran Nicholas Hagen played the mid-week Cup match.

The Crew's attack has been by committee this season, led by Uruguayan attacker Diego Rossi's six goals before he sold to Monterrey in Liga MX in July. Spanish attacking midfielder Brais Méndez was signed in the summer to replace Rossi and has already scored five goals and added four assists. Injured Wessam Abou Ali has also contributed five goals, and Taha Habroune has chipped in with five goals and four assists.

Toronto's form of late

The Reds are fighting for their play-off lives and, with just a handful of games remaining, cannot afford to drop points. After stumbling through the latter half of September, Toronto have hit a much-needed vein of good form in October with a three-match unbeaten run — two wins and a draw — to keep their post-season dreams alive.

Toronto are coming off an inspiring 2-0 road win over Red Bull New York to draw level on points with the club holding down the final play-in spot. TFC sit 10th on 36 points from eight wins, 12 draws, and ten losses.

Robin Fraser's squad has somewhat righted the ship defensively and has leaned on key attacking performances from wingers Dániel Sallói and Theo Corbeanu to climb back into post-season contention. Fraser also returns to the touchline after serving his one-match ban for yellow card accumulation in last weekend's triumph over RBNY.

Defensively, Toronto will welcome back Richie Laryea and Benjamín Kuscevic after they, too, served one-match bans for yellow card accumulation last weekend. Niklas Dorsch and captain Jonathan Osorio, coming off a Team of the Match Week performance, will look to control the centre of the park and break up Columbus's passing schemes.

Yet it appears Toronto's fate will largely be determined by how their attacking front four fare. Namely, Đorđe Mihailović with the aforementioned Sallói and Corbeanu flanking him, and Josh Sargent at the tip of the spear. Sallói leads the Reds with eight goals and ten assists, and the once-again healthy Corbeanu has been running riot down the other wing, posting three goals and seven assists in just 17 appearances.

Player Availability

The Columbus Crew will be without Wessam Abou Ali, out with a knee injury, and Rudy Camacho, who has an unspecified torso injury. Andre Gomes is doubtful with back issues.

Toronto FC will miss Nelson Palacio (thigh), Walker Zimmerman (ankle), and Kobe Franklin (shoulder) this weekend. Nicksoen Gomis has also been added to the injury list with a calf injury.

Neither team is missing any players or coaches for disciplinary reasons.

Projected XIs

Columbus Crew (4-4-2): Patrick Schulte; Malte Amundsen, Sean Zawadski, Steven Moreira, Mo Farsi; Santiago Rodríguez, Taha Habroune, Dylan Chambost, Brooks Lennon; Brais Méndez, Josef Martínez

Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Matheus Pereira, Benjamín Kuscevic, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea; Jonathan Osorio, Niklas Dorsch; Dániel Sallói, Đorđe Mihailović, Theo Corbeanu; Josh Sargent

Game information and how to watch

📅 Saturday, 24 October 2026
⏰ 3:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm PT
📺 Apple TV
🧑‍⚖️ Chris Penso
🏟 ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio